BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said the US sanction on seven individuals including chiefs of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the police on allegation of human rights abuses is absolutely a shame for the country.
“What a shame! A country like US has imposed sanctions on our RAB and police chiefs. Why has the sanction been imposed? Because they violated human rights, killed people. So, people must hold them accountable for their actions,” Mirza Fakhrul added.
He made the remarks while addressing a discussion organised by National People’s Party (NPP) at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), demanding BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad.
UNB adds: BNP described the US sanction on RAB and its seven current and former top officials as an inevitable consequence of serious violations of human rights.
“As per news published today (Saturday), sanctions have been imposed on Benazir Ahmed (current IGP) and the RAB chief. I don’t think it’s a surprise as I it’s an inevitable consequence,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He also said those who violate human rights, snatch human rights and kill people have to face such a consequence.
The BNP leader said their party now wants to see whether the government takes action against those who are accused of violating human rights or remains silent as in the past.
Mirza Fakhrul said the US sanctions have also proved right what BNP has long been talking about the violations of human rights and killing and torturing of people by using the state machinery, including police and administration.
The United States on Friday imposed human rights-related sanctions on Benzir Ahmed, current Inspector General of the Bangladesh Police and former Director General of Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and six other individuals on the occasion of International Human Rights Day.
The US Department of State announced visa restrictions on Benazir Ahmed, which it says, due to his “involvement in gross violations of human rights” making him ineligible for entry into the United States.
RAB as an entity, Benzir Ahmed, and six other officials were designated by the Department of the Treasury under the Global Magnitsky sanctions programme in connection with serious human rights abuse, said the US Department of State.
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